As Jill didn’t want to understand Rudy’s relationship with his associate, she didn’t pursue the matter. Instead she offered a diet soda, then picked up her plate. Emily shifted closer.

“Who’s that man?” she asked in a mock whisper.

Rudy smiled at the girl. “I’m a friend of Jill’s. My name’s Rudy. Who are you?”

“Emily Kendrick.”

Rudy’s eyebrows rose slightly as he put the relationship together. “Nice to meet you, Emily. Are you enjoying your holiday?”

“Uh-huh.” She took a bite of her sandwich.

Bev cleared her throat. “How long have you been in town, Rudy?” she asked.

“A couple of days. Until her unfortunate change in circumstances, Jill was my attorney. When I learned she’d moved here, I wanted to come over and see how she was doing.”

Bev’s lashes fluttered. “That was so thoughtful of you. Where do you live?”

“Vegas.”

“An exciting city,” she said.

“You’re right, but Los Lobos has certain charms.” Rudy looked at Jill. “So who is this Gracie Landon I’ve been hearing about?”

Jill nearly choked on a bite of fruit salad. When she’d swallowed, she cleared her throat. “What? You’ve heard of Gracie?”

“Of course. There was that nice lady at the bakery, and the waitress this morning. We were talking about the history of the town and her name came up. Did Gracie really grind up a sleeping pill and put it in Riley’s drink so he couldn’t go on his date?”

Jill dropped her chin to her chest. “Gracie isn’t going to like this.”

“What? That she’s a legend?”

“That no one seems to be forgetting what she did all those years ago.”

Bev laughed. “We’re all admiring her guts to go after what she wants.”

“In some circles, what she did could have landed her in jail,” Jill pointed out.

“No,” Rudy said. “It was true love. How old was she?”

“Fourteen.”

He looked at Bev. “The young know how to love with their whole hearts. I admire that.”

“Me, too,” Bev said breathily.

“She made Riley’s life miserable,” Jill said. “Not to mention his girlfriend’s.” Although she had much less compassion for Pam. The woman hadn’t been very nice back in high school and time seemed to have left her much the same. Or, once a bitch, always a bitch, she thought with a smile.

“I hope I get to meet her,” Rudy said.

It took Jill a second to realize he meant Gracie and not Pam.

“Sorry, she doesn’t come back to Los Lobos, ever. In fact, she’s convinced her entire family that it’s much more exciting to visit her in Los Angeles during the holidays. I don’t think she’s stepped foot in town in about fourteen years.”

Rudy looked disappointed. Jill took a bite of her sandwich. How weird was it having him here? She’d only ever seen Rudy in her office where he’d been dressed for success and surrounded by “associates.” Here, on the beach, he was almost human. Although Mr. Smith hovering in the background wasn’t the most com forting of sights.

She glanced at Emily, who had been listening with interest. “So I talked to your dad,” she told the girl. “I have a secretary where I work and she has children. One of them is a daughter your age. I thought it might be fun to go hang with them for a while. What do you think?”

Emily nodded. “It’s a good idea.”

Jill patted her shoulder. “Poor kid, stuck with all us adults. We’re pretty boring, huh?”

“You’re not so bad.”

“Wow. What a compliment. I’m honored. And touched. Really.”

Emily giggled and popped another strawberry into her mouth.

Jill finished up her lunch, then slathered on another coating of sunscreen. Too many years in law school and then behind a desk had robbed her of her tan. Despite her dark hair and incredibly boring brown eyes, she had fair skin that punished her by burning if she wasn’t careful.

Bev was still in conversation with Rudy, which freaked Jill out a little. She had the thought that it wasn’t safe to leave her aunt alone with the man, which was crazy. Bev was a grown-up and this was a very public place. There were families spread out on the sand everywhere. Deputies patrolled everywhere—besides, she didn’t think Rudy was really a bad guy, did she?

Jill realized she didn’t have an answer. Her contacts with the man had all been professional as she worked with several very legal businesses. He’d always been honest and open and paid his bills on time. When Emily asked Bev for another chocolate milk, Jill leaned toward the man sitting next to her.

“She’s my aunt,” she said, her voice low, her gaze steady as she stared into his eyes. Although what she was searching for remained a mystery. Did she think some banner would wave through his irises saying I’m really a good guy and I won’t whack your aunt if she gets on my nerves?

“I know,” Rudy told her, and patted the back of her hand. “I understand about family. She’ll be safe with me.”

“I’m more worried about her being safe from you,” she muttered, then had to change the subject when Bev finished with Emily.

Complications, she thought ten minutes later when Rudy invited Bev to go with him to get ice cream and she agreed. He stood, then held out his hand. He helped Bev to her feet as if she were a delicate flower. Worse, Bev giggled and smiled at him.

It wasn’t just the older people connecting that made her uneasy. That was kind of weird, but she thought she might be able to deal with it. But this was her aunt. And Rudy. She would never have imagined him hooking up. Bev was into serious psychic energy and staying pure—sort of—for her gift. Rudy was into… Jill frowned as she realized she couldn’t answer that question.

“Did you know Gracie?” Emily asked as she polished off the last of her sandwich. “The legend one?”

“Uh-huh. We were friends. We still are. She lives in Los Angeles.”

“She really liked a boy?”

Like didn’t begin to describe it. “She did, but he didn’t like her back and that made her sad.”

Emily wrinkled her nose. “Boys aren’t very nice. They play mean sometimes.”

“That will change,” Jill promised. At least she hoped it would for Emily. In her world, Lyle had played mean enough for two men. Why couldn’t he have loved her as much as Gracie had loved Riley?

Jill reconsidered that. She didn’t actually want stalker love—just someone to pay attention. And kiss like Mac, she thought with a smile. Even on the run, his kisses were plenty hot. But Lyle had been nothing but a mistake. If her life had been just a little different, she wouldn’t have ever married him. It was the naked thing.

“Ready to go meet Tina’s kids?” she asked.

“Sure.” Emily put her paper plate into the trash bag, then scrambled to her feet.

Jill made sure the blanket was anchored and asked their neighbors to keep an eye on things. Then she took Emily’s hand and started off in the direction of lifeguard station number three, where Tina said her family would be encamped.

Why was life complicated by getting naked? she wondered. The first time had been with Mac and he’d promptly thrown up. Now she understood why, but at the time, she’d been crushed. Then there’d been Evan. He’d been Mac’s opposite. Slight, bookish, not nearly as handsome, but gentle. He’d made Jill laugh, had been tender and romantic. Practically the perfect boyfriend. They’d dated for nearly eight months before deciding to take things “to the next level.”

She’d slipped off her clothes, he’d taken one look at her body and had announced he was gay.

Events like that had a way of changing a woman’s perspective on the world. Then three years later Lyle had come along. He’d been interested in her sexually and hadn’t had either an involuntary negative physical response or an epiphany leading to a major lifestyle change upon viewing her without clothes. She’d been so grateful, she’d decided she was in love with him.

Looking back the sequence of events was so clear, but at the time, she’d thought she really loved him. Worse, she’d worked hard at a marriage destined for failure. And she’d cooked for him. That still made her bitter. At least she didn’t have to worry about being in love with him anymore. She didn’t think her heart had ever been fully engaged. Which meant picking up the pieces wasn’t too difficult at all.

EMILY RUBBED her hands against her shorts. “Do you think…?” she asked, then stopped, not sure what to say.

Jill tugged on a strand of her hair. “Do I think what? That you’ll have fun? Absolutely? That they’ll like you? They’ll adore you. That Tina will start to think I’m actually a person? That is less likely.”

Emily laughed. Being around Jill always made her feel good.

“You two. In the shorts. Stop right there and put your hands up.”

Emily spun toward the sound of her dad’s voice and saw him jogging up toward them. For a second she felt happy and good and wanted to run to meet him. Then she remembered that she was mad and her insides got all scrunchy.

“Mac.” Jill put her hands on her hips. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have any time to be arrested today. It’s going to have to wait.”

“Ha. I have handcuffs right here.”

Jill grinned. “Interesting,” she said. “What’s up?”

“This.”

Her dad held out his hand. Emily saw a tiny little rhino sitting on his palm.

“It was in one of those grab machines. It cost me three bucks, but I got it. I figured Elvis could use a friend.”

Emily didn’t know what to do. She wanted to take the toy and thank her dad, but something inside of her was afraid. She looked from him to the rhino and back, then watched as his smile began to fade. Her tummy tightened and her face got all hot.

“You’re kidding,” Jill said, taking the tiny stuffed animal from him. She held it up and started to laugh. “It’s too sweet for words.” She pulled Emily close and hugged her. “Don’t you just love it?”

Emily felt the scary tightness start to fade. She smiled a little, then giggled. “It’s cute.”

“More than cute. Charming beyond words.” Jill handed the rhino to her. “Your dad is pretty cool.”

Emily glanced at her dad. He looked pleased. She tucked the baby rhino into her pocket and reached for her dad’s hand. “He’s okay,” she said softly.

WEARY BUT SATISFIED, Mac made his way to his patrol car a little past midnight. The day had gone well. At last count there’d been nearly a dozen arrests, which was right in line for the holiday. Considering the crowds, he figured they’d gotten off lucky. There hadn’t been any fights and the only injuries had been minor. That was the good news. The bad news was summer had just started. There would be a lot more busy days, especially for the pier centennial celebration. But for now, he was pleased.

Even Emily had had a good time. Bev had taken her home shortly after the fireworks and had promised to put her to bed, then stick around to baby-sit. Mac knew whatever he paid the woman wasn’t close to enough.

The night was cool and clear. By the ocean, the temperature dropped with the sun, so he didn’t have to worry about too many stragglers on the beach. D.J. had volunteered to make the last run of the evening, leaving Mac free to head home.

As he approached his patrol car, he saw someone sit ting on the hood. He could only think of one person likely to do that and his blood quickened at the thought of Jill.

She smiled as he approached. “I thought maybe I could convince you to give me a ride home.”